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    No. 457, December M> 1858.] TEE LEADER. ...

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    Wo Gather From An Amusing Hill Before Us...

    to condemn ; but this apology cannot be extended to page after page of consecutive prose talk of which the only apparent end is to wear away the time and patience of the listener . Lot us hope the scissors will' be unsparingly applied . The story of Satanella runs , or rather limps , as follows . The young , wealthy , and fast Count Rupert ( Mr . Harrison )* beloved in secret by Lelia ( Miss Rebecca Isaacs ) , but about to marry Stella ( Miss S . Pyne ) , gives a splendid fete in honour of the latter . But incautiously embracing the former before the company , the Count conies to grief . A rupture takes place , which ends far more romantically than in a breach of promise suit , for the lady provokes her

    discarded to throw a main with her , and beggars him . The second act introduces us to a gothie library in the last of the Count ' s possessions , " the Devil's Tower , " to his servant , Karl ( Mr . St . Albyn ) , who is sia . humble admirer of the aspiring Lelia ,-and makes -us better acquainted with his travelling Mentor , Ilortensius ( Mr . George Honey ) . Here , to relieve his fortunes and get a new sensation , our hero hits upon the expedient of summoning the Devil to his aid . On this appears the fiend , Arimanes ( Mr . Weiss ) . In wrathful mood at being thus disturbed upon his throne of flame , he soundly rates the presumptuous mortal and strikes him senseless , leaving the familiar ¦ demon Satanella ( Miss Louisa Pyne ) in possession , with these directions :- ^ -

    1 o question , do not . dare : My will is to ensnare All woman in thy heart . With woman ' s presence part ; In form be thou a page , As such with him engage . Satanella enters upon her duties by restoring Rupert to consciousness , giving him a first-rate supper , and * ' magic slumber" to follow , and then falling deeply , -desperately , but , alas ! hopelessly , in love with him . Abandoning the page ' s eostume , she tries to fasci-r mate in woman ' s guise , but here even her supernatural powers fail her , and she is tormented by the rivalry of Stella . This , however , she counteracts by the present of a mystic hat , which , though it intri

    enables Rupert to discern the falsehood of the - jante , is powerless against his revived passion for Lelia . Restored to wealth and cured of his attachment to Stella , theConnt now retires upon his premieres amours . We find him , in fact , on the point of being married to the , peasant girl ; but the united exertions of her rejected admirer , Karl , the desperate Stella , and the lovelorn Satanella , are too much for him . The first enlists with a gang of pirates , and carrries off Lelia . The last contrives that Stella also shall bo kidnapped , and herself takes the bride ' s place in the wedding march . But immortals , as well as mortals , seem doomed to slips ' fcwixt cup and , lips , for almost at the altar ' s foot our enamoured enchantress is herself spirited away at the call of the master fiend , Arimanes .

    The next scene in winch the action progresses is the slave mart at Tunis , where we find Lelia and JStella for sale . Rupert , who has followed the object of his affections , is there too , and is on the point of seeing her purchased by a wealthy Turk , when , suddenly enriched by Satanella , he is enabled to redeem her . The gentle fiend , in virtue of an impromptu compact , goes vicariously into slavery , and the happiness of the lovers seems again all but secure . But , in the fourth act , poor Sutanella again forbids the bans at the very altar ' s foot . She presents Rupert's bill for acceptance and claims his person in satisfaction ; but touched by the devotion of Lelia , who offers herself instead , foregoes her rights and destroys the document . Aftor tins , by the aid of a holy rosary and the prayers of the faithful , she is delivered from the tyranny of the fiend , her master , and the curtain descends upon her apotheosis .

    In attempting a meagre condensation of the story , wo have left ourselves scant space for allusion to the beauties of the opora , which though they might richly furnish a short work , appeared on- the first representation to bo separated by long intervals of liorrid dulness . The first net contains a successful ballad . " Ouv hearts are not our own to givo , " which rejoices in a graceful accompaniment , and was so feelingly given by Miss Isaacs aa to secure ft sound encore . That Karl ' e aong , " Oh would ^ sho but name the day , " will be a drawing-room favourite , we have little doubt . It was well aung by Mr . St . Albyn , whoso clear and true tonea penetrating to the back

    rows of seats , where strains of several other voices were utterly lost , procured him much genuine approbation . The act concludes , or should have concluded , with " The power of love , " a fine , flowing , expressive melody accompanied by tho hnrp and supported by a chorus behind the scenes . This air and its recitative were deliciously eung by Misa I ' yno , who would have made a great ; impression in them , but the enthusiasm of tho audience w < ib immediately damped by the intrusion of somo vapid dialogue between its termination and tho full of the act drop . The appearance of Arimanos gives an opening for ft few fine linos , which wero delivered by Mr . Weiss at half

    power , and Mr . Harrison ' s song , in the Balfean manner , iii praise of champagne , fell as flat as the antithesis of that admirable liquor . Mi-. Harrison had it quite under command , he treated it forcibly , and in his best manner , but it yielded him nothing . The opening chorus of peasants , nobles , and tenantry , as well as the short overture , were fresh and richly scored . The chorus of the gamblers also introduced a few charming bars ; but on the whole the first act , though mounted with most superb scenery , and new and really splendid costumes , showed little promise of an unqualified success . The striking morceaux

    of Act II . are the bold andante , and , in parts , fine bravura with which . Satanella opens it . The wellwritten ballad , "An angel form , " for which again we may venture to predict some drawing-room popularity , would have been more effective had it not carried Mr . Harrison into falsetto . But there was no mista king the thorough appreciation by all connoisseurs of Miss Eyne ' s original and beautiful " Let not the world disdaining , " with its charming prelude by Mi * . Lazarus . The finale presented much beautiful instrumentation , in parts reminding us of Mendelssohn , and the excellent male part song , also in the German manner , with which it opens , was

    deservedly encored . In Act IH . portions of the duo between Satanella and Arimanes are well written and were effectively sung . The long buffo duo in the second scene Was mainly a waste of time . It contains one elegant couplet of the light and sparkling school , in which Mr . Honey and Mr . St . Albyn gave satisfaction . The chorus and dance step sung in the Tunis bazaar is very pretty ; and the quintett , " Oh woe ! despair !" displays originality and successful thought . Satanella ' s song , ?' Sultana Zulema , " which Miss Pyne can not help singing deliciously , seems a pasticcio of jigs treated Auber-esquely . This was succeeded , howeverby a fine melody , also for Satanella , which ,

    , though it may never attain to the dignity of a street organv ought , among amateurs , to become very popular . It is called , " Wouldst thou win me , " and leads to a third song in waltz time , ' ¦ Old man , thyself deceiving , " in which the fair lessee gave a splendid specimen of her vocalising powers . Some good music preludes Act IV ., but the opening serenade , "No prize can fate , " was so common-place that the grave indiscretion of some applauding enthusiasts , who once o r twice erred in this manner , met with a just rebuke in the shape of hisses . The finale , in which the composer lias largely introduced the delicious strains of the French-horn , presents

    the arrival of the lady betrothed to him , Undine discovered his falsehood , and bade him a sad adieu . On his bridal night she sought his chamber , and , finding him there alone , flung herself into his arms and gave him the kiss of death . The sacrifice atoned for her weakness , and she became restored , to her high station amongst the Spirtts of the Waters . The character of Undine will be sustained by Louise Leclercq ; Tran & lucia , her sister , by Fanny Wright ; and Mrs . Leclercq will personate the false knight . The scenery has been painted by Mr . Frederick Fen ton , and the unrivalled pantomimists of last year - — Arthur Leclereq , Charles Leclercq , Louise Leelercq , and Fanny Wright—will sustain the harlequinade , the comic portion of which is invented by Mr . W . Dorringtori . The scenery of this portion is painted by Messrs . O'Connor and Morris , and the entire pantomime produced under the direction of Mr . Leclercq ..

    STRAND THEATRE . The extravaganza of Kenilworth ; or , ye Queene , ye Earle , and ye Maydenne , which is very carefully prepared at this theatre , follows pretty closely , we understand , the novel by Sir Walter Scott , as far as the latter goes . But here Messrs . Halliday and Lawrence deviate from their authorities , or rather go ahead of them ; for they unfold to their audience that poor Amy Robsart never died at all . She reappears , and is happily united

    to " Earle" in a superb " hall of dazzling light , " wherein are illustrated three great epochs of English , history—those , namely , of Queens Elizabeth , Anne , and Victoria . The leading characters of the burlesque are Leicester ( Miss Swanborougb ) , the Queen ( Mrs . Selby ) , Amy Robsart ( Miss Oliver ) , and Sir Walter Raleigh ( Miss Marie Wilton ) . Varney is Mr . Clarke ; Wayfand Smith , Mr . James Bland ; and Tressilian , Miss Charlotte Sauiiders , a lady more known at present to provincial than to metropolitan fame .

    A . slight , but agreeable comedietta , entitled The Rule of Three , by Mr . Frank Talfourd , was produced here on Monday night . The " rule of three" appears to be that , while " two are company , three are none ; " and this is the conclusion to which the piece works up . The leading personages are : Air . Thistleburr ( Mr . Turner ) and his young wife Margaret ( Miss M . Ternan ) are supposed to be agreeing in their little matrimonial nest like art amiable pair of turtledoves ' , when a shade drifts athwart their bli ^ s in the form of an invading host of bachelor friends , who drive the uxorious Benedict nearly to desperation . But his troubles are of no long duration , for as there is little vice about his tormentors , the audience have the pleasure of seeing his deliverance from them before anything serious occurs .

    much instrumental power and beauty . The declamation of Satanella , "Oh ! tenderness sublime , " the splendid crescendo , " Weep thou no more , " the ensemble which follows , and Mr . Harrison ' s " Great Heaven , accord , " in which he was especially successful , were all much admired and warranted a general verdict of approval at the fall of the curtain . We must not forget to mention that the public availed themselves of the new arrangements for their comfort with the greatest satisfaction , and we believe we are but echoing the general sentiment when we express the hope that the courageous abolition of booking and box-keeping fees by this management will eventually profit them and all who will follow

    PALACE OF THIS PEOPLE , MUSWISLL HILL . Eighteen elaborate designs prepared for this project by Mr . Given Jones , are now on view in the large room , at St . James ' s Hall , and will well repay the trouble of a visit . The architect proposes a building 1296 feet long , constructed of iron and glass , havipg two towers of moderate dimensions at each end , and four others towards its centre , from which will spring a handsome mosquelike dome of 200 feet internal diameter . The roof will be ribbed , and the span of the nave girders 120 feet . The first five designs , which may worthily be called elegant Water-colour drawings , exhibit the proposed south front , industrial nave , line-art navo , winter garden ( under

    their example . Wo learn—but it is too late to cancel our previous remarks—that the shears havo been at work with a will . So far , so good . If the management will set closer together the rare gems of musical poetry in Sq / anellai and the orchestral beauties which are more abundant , they will be nearer that success their industry and outlay would , had they been well advised in time , have secured for them at the hands of the very critical audience on Monday . KAYSIAHKBT THliATHE .

    central dome ) , and north front with terrace . It has been arranged for the public comfort that railway trains shall set-down company absolutely under the grand north terrace , leaving them an ascout of but 2-1 feet by a flight of stairs to the floor of the building . This will bo an undoubted advantage . A seini-circulur conoert and . lecture theatre , designed for 9 Q 0 O persons , ia to project from the ccuti'o of one front , and refreshment corridors from tho end of ouch nave . Wo havo no space in our present number to do more ; than attract attention to tho deslgn-drawingfl which have evidently cost their talented author an in Unity of labour and thought as well as time , und -which aft ' ord strong presumptive evidence that the promoters of tho scheme nra really in earnest .

    Tho material for Mr . Buckstono ' s forthcoming pantomime , entitled Undine , or Harlequin and the Spirit of the Waters , is Bupplicd by De la Motte tfouyuc . The story runs that Undine , the fair spirit , was loft by her parents on tho banks of a lake , near an onchanted forest , so that she might grow up among mortals until her eighteenth your , when , if during that time she could resist the power of Love , she would bo worthy to succeed to the throne of her mother under tho waters , Being discovered by an old fisherman , he brought her home , whore she lived with hint and his wife until her eighteenth' birthday , when a vounff kniyht , who had braved tho dangers

    MB . ALJJEI 5 T SMITJII 3 ES' 1 'lSKISA . IKM . ISNT , EGYPTIAN HAIX . As genial and fresh us ever , Mr . Smith opened his Chinese Campaign on Wednesday night , and favoured a crowded company with his impressions of a scamper to Canton and of Colonial and Chinese society . Thelittl ' o hall was vory' nicely decked with accurately coloured fac-similea of Chinese shop fronts , covered with quaint inscriptions , and other Chinese curiosities of nil sorts , " neat as imported ; " while a real live Chinaman mooned on tho staring Britons as thoy passed tho check-taker . Wo , unluckily , missed the first part , which comprehended , glances at Cairo , tho Sphynx , nntl Vymmids , with tho

    of tho Enchanted Forest , to prove his valour and please a lady to whom ho was betrothed , sought refuse in tho fisherman ' s cottugof Undine , on boholding tho stranger , full at once hi lovo with him . The water spirits , on knowing this , wore greatly in- ? consod against Undine , but allayed their ongor by tho knowledges that , should tho knight prove untrue to lior , it was . hor doom to destroy him . In vain Undine sought her companions in their ocoan home . In vain she absented herself to conquer her fatal passion . The power of love gave her a soul , and . henceforth aho became mortal , and subject to all tho infirmities of mortality . The young knight , for a brief spuco , returned tho passion of Undiiiv , but , on

    Desert and Isthmian Railway . Tlioao subject * , however , wore illustrated , wo understand ) ty' four scenes of merit , painted under Mr . William lJovcrlov ' a iliroutiou ,, and tho author ' s sketches of Ills fellow-travellers by land and sea woro , according to our authority , moat amusing . Wo can sponk from nutojwy upon tho second part , the ecenea of which fli-o laid in China . No . 1 in the City and Harbour of llonff Koug ? No . 2 , a Watoraido 13 u » aar ; No . 0 the celebrated Uuyuo Forts ; No . 4 , tho late European l / ttotories nt Canton ; No . 5 , the Gardens dt IIowqua' » country-house . These views are all pleasingly paiuted Aftor warranted sketches by colonial and native artists }

    No. 457, December M> 1858.] Tee Leader. ...

    No . 457 , December M > 1858 . ] TEE LEADER . 1415

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 24, 1858, page 15, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_24121858/page/15/